LAST orders could soon be called for the final time at a Borders pub that has stood for “hundreds of years”.
A planning application has been submitted to Scottish Borders Council for the change of use of "Deans Bar" and function suite at 3 Orrock Place into a private dwelling.
The aim is to regenerate the property from its current vacant state to a domestic property matching all other properties within the overall block.
It is known that there has been a public bar at the location for centuries.
At a licensing court in 1880, Bailie Milligan stated that the-then Ewe & Lamb had been licensed “for hundreds of years”.
And an agent who appeared on behalf of the new applicant observed that the premises had been licensed since “time immemorial”.
It is known that prior to this James Elliot was the proprietor in 1841 with the inn re-built during his tenure in around 1860.
This was then re-built as the current form in the 1950s replacing the former structure.
The current structure takes the form of the commercial property to the ground floor with flats above it.
The pub changed to form a public members club in 2005, turning back again in 2016, until Deans Bar closed finally in May this year.
It was a sad decision for landlord and landlady Mark and Pauline Deans to call time on the watering hole but the couple admitted it had been an “uphill struggle” to keep operating over recent times.
A statement with the application, from Selkirk-based Stuart Davidson architects, says: “It has become clear with attempted leasing by our clients and the current trend nationally, notably within Hawick, that the use of the property as a public bar has now reached a point that is not sustainable.
“There have been a number of noise complaints from owners above the property with sizeable sound testing studies and sound performance upgrades carried out in an attempt to appease and find a solution to the issue.
“The proposal to re-develop as a residential property for their use allows a building which is currently vacant and will continue to be vacant for the foreseeable future to be re-generated and allow the full building to match that of the immediately adjoining property to be fully residential.
“Any potential works would be carried out with materials resistant to potential rising water and any existing materials not suitable replaced, it would be proposed that the property would be fitted with flood barriers to all doorways to be part of the early warning flood scheme.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel